FILICES. 



1393 



the Scythian Lamb of old writers, of which such marvellous stories were told. 



1366. Cibotium glaucum, Hook, et Am. ;* C. Chamissoi, Kaulf.; C. Menziesii, 

 Hook. "Pulu." All these, if really distinct, are natives of the Sandwich 

 Islands, and yield the substance called " Pulu/ which is the silky hair found 

 clothing the rhizome and lower portion of the stalk or stipes. It has been 

 recommended as a styptic. For further particulars, consult ' Pharmaceutical 

 Journal,' Series 2, Vol. I. p. 501. 



1367. Davallia tenuifolia, Sw\| In the Mauritius this forms the basis of the 

 compound remedies used by empirics for tambave, and is often administered 

 internally in decoction without any admixture, and also in the form of a 

 lotion and bath. 



1368. Helminthostachys Dulcis, Kaulj.\ This fern, Dr. Lindley states, is 

 regarded in the Moluccas as a slight aperient ; it is used as a pot-herb, and its 

 young shoots as asparagus. 



1369. Ophioglossum vulgatum, Linn.§ " Adder's-tongue." " The leaves of 

 adder's-tongue," writes Gerarde, " stamped in a stone mortar, and boiled 

 in oyle olive unto the consumption of the juice, and until the heibes be dry 

 and parched, and then strained, will yield a most excellent greene oyle, or 

 rather a balsame for greene wounds, comparable to oile of St. John's wort, 

 if it do not farre surpasse it by many degrees ; whose beauty is such that 

 very many artists have thought the same to be mixed with verdigrease. 



11 For them that are with newts or snakes or adders stung. 

 He seeking out an herb that's called adder's-tongue, 

 As nature it ordain'd its own like hurt to cure, 

 And sportive did herself to niceties inure." 



1370. Osmunda regalis, Linn. || " Royal Fern." A native of Europe. The 

 rhizome was formerly employed medicinally, but seems to be of little or no 

 value. It is affirmed to be tonic and styptic, and to have been serviceable in 

 cases of rachitis. 



1371. Pteris aquilina, Linn%. " Common Bracken." Native of Europe. The 

 rhizome is said to be astringent and anthelminitic. Lindley says that it 

 has been used with some success as a substitute for hops. Its esculent 

 qualities must be very poor, although it is said to be sometimes eaten. The 

 ancients used rhizomes and fronds, in decoction, in chronic disorders arising 

 from obstructions of the viscera and spleen. It is sometimes employed 

 abroad in dressing and preparing kid and chamois leather 



Undetermined Indian Ferns. Several ferns products employed in India 

 have been enumerated, but at present without accurate identification. 

 Amongst these are " Iskoolikundrion," a species of Scolopendrium ; " Doondi- 

 tarus," a species of Dryopteris ; "Surkhus " or " Bitarus," probably a species 

 of Pteris ; and " Bisfaij " or " Bulookunbood," which is referred to a species 

 of Polypodium." 



* Rej. Bedd. Hand-book to ferns of Br. Ind 



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467. 



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464. 



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450. 



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115. 



